Zheng Quan Shi Bao·2025-11-04 05:22Core Insights - Starbucks has announced a strategic partnership with Boyu Capital to establish a joint venture for its retail operations in China, with Boyu holding up to 60% equity and Starbucks retaining 40% [1][2] - The partnership aims to leverage Boyu's local market expertise to accelerate Starbucks' expansion in China, particularly in smaller cities and emerging regions [1][3] - Starbucks' total retail business value in China is projected to exceed $13 billion, comprising the equity transferred to Boyu, retained equity, and ongoing licensing revenue [1][4] Group 1: Partnership Details - The joint venture will be headquartered in Shanghai and manage approximately 8,000 Starbucks stores in China, with plans to expand to 20,000 stores in the future [1][3] - Starbucks has been exploring strategic partnerships for over a year to enhance its competitive position and drive growth in the challenging Chinese market [2][3] Group 2: Market Context - In 2023, Luckin Coffee surpassed Starbucks in annual sales in China, highlighting the intense competition in the market [2] - Starbucks' CEO emphasized the need to understand the competitive landscape better and explore partnerships to ensure long-term success in China [2][3] Group 3: Financial Performance - For the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025, Starbucks reported revenue of $9.6 billion, a 5% increase year-over-year, with same-store sales growth of 1% [3][4] - Starbucks China achieved revenue of $831.6 million in the fourth quarter, a 6% year-over-year increase, marking four consecutive quarters of growth [4] Group 4: Boyu Capital Overview - Boyu Capital, founded in 2011, is a leading alternative asset management firm with a diversified investment portfolio across private equity, public markets, infrastructure, and venture capital [5][6] - The firm has a history of successful investments in emerging technology and consumer sectors, including notable companies like Alibaba and NIO [5][6]